Sample taking apparatus



` Feb. 27, 1934. J. BARRETTe-r AL SAMPLE TAKING APPARATUS Filled July 26, 1932 Z4. 6 3 a? y 2 n v 5 uw 4 6 2 4 5 A 444s w. 7N. 7/ f/ /Uf/ f uM W ab 2 Patented Feb.

SAMPLE TAKING APPARATUS George J. Barrett, Houston, and Sosthene Robichaux, Saratoga, Tex.

Application July 26, 1932. Serial No. 6,234,720 7 claims. (ol. Z55- 72) This invention relates tov sample taking apparatus.

The invention herein disclosed contains certain improvements over that disclosed in our copendl ing application Serial No.-605,464, filed April 15,

An object vof the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described comprising a drill stem having a sample-chamber therein and 10 provided with a core forming" drill having an inlet i into said chamber, said chamber-having an outlet opening and an outwardly opening valve controlling said opening with means for relieving the pressure against the outer side of the valve whereby the valve will more readily open to facilitate the entrance of the core or sample into said chamber.

In taking cores or samples of the formation being pierced in the process of well drilling it is common practice to provide a drill stem having a drill at the lower end thereof provided with an inlet and having a core barrel within the drill stem to receive the core or sample. This core barrel usually has an outlet opening above the sample chamber controlled by an outwardly open? ing valve. While the core is being taken, drilling fluid is forced down through the drill stem under pressure and thisV drilling fluid passes down around the core barrel and outthrough suitable channels in the drill yto the lower end of the bore to flush away the cuttings from the drill, and the valve herein referred to is subject to this pressure. As the core or sample enters the chamber or core barrel the air or other contents of the sample chamber is forced out through the outlet opening. The `valve is subject to the' pressure of the drilling fluid and must be lifted against said pressure to permit the escape of said contents of thes sample chamber. As the sample enters the sample chamber it encounters considerable resistance due to the compression of the air in the sample chamber before the valve is lifted to relieve such` pressure for the reason that said valve must be liftedagainst the pressure of the drilling fluid. Consequently, under the conditions mentioned the entrance of the sample into the sample chamber will be retarded and the sample will also become packed in said chamber and if -the core barrel rotates with the'stem, as it often does, the `core or sample will be burned asgwell as, broken up and accordingly will notv thereafter reveal the true condition ofthe strata from which the core or sample'has been taken. It is the prime object of this invention to reduce the pressure against the outerside of said valve so that it will more readily open and the resistance against the core or sample entering the sample chamber will be lessened or completely relieved.

Another object of the invention is to provide a core taking apparatus having a sample chamber 00 provided with a valve controlled outlet and means whereby the drilling fluid flowing downwardly through the drill stem will be rendered effective to relieve the pressure against said valve and to create a vacuum, or partial vacuum in the valve chamber and sample chamber.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention has particular relation to certain novelv features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein.

Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view of the upper end of the apparatus.

Figure 2 shows a vertical sectional view of the Y6 lower end thereof.

Figure 3 shows a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a slightly modified form of the view shown in Figure l,

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary vertical sectional 80 view of another modification thereof, and

Figure 5 shows a sectional view of a core catcher employed. l y

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate sim- 86 ilar parts in each of the figures the numeral 1 designates the drill stem to the lower end of which a coupling 2 is attached and a drill 3 is connected to this coupling by the drill collarA. Any selected type of drill may be employed which may be con- 90 nected to the drill stem in any preferredmanner.

Leading downwardly through said drill collar and drill from within the stem are the channels 5 through which' drilling fluid may be supplied from the stem to the drill to flush away the cuttings. Fittedclosely within the drill collar and attached to the drill there is the tubular housing 6 forming a guide which is spaced from the collar 2 and stem 1 and whoseupper end is flared as at 7, said flared portion 1being provided with 100v lnotches 8 to provide ample space for the passage of drilling fluid from above said housing. `'I'he drill 3 is provided with a sample inlet, preferably a central bore or passageway 9, to admit the core or sample and this bore has an internal upwardly facing seat 10 on which the lower end of the lower section 11 of the core barrel may rest. Within the drill around the lower end of said barrel are any suitable antifriction means, said means, as shown consisting of the race-way rings 12, 13 with the antfriction ball bearings 14 between said rings. Within the core barrel, adjacent its lower end, there is a downwardly converging slip seat '15, whereon the slips 16 are mounted and said slips are held in place in any suitable manner as by an inside annular shoulder 17 beneath said seat and the coil pressure springs 18 which press against the upper ends o f the slips.

The lower section l1 of the core barrel is spaced from the housing 6 but the uppersection "11' thereof is fitted closely within the housing 6 to prevent passage of the drilling iluid down between said section l1 and the housing 6 and thus prevent said drilling iluid from becoming mingled with the sample at the lower end of the core barrel. The sections l1, ll', are connected to swivel said swivel connection referred to being formed by a flange coupling 19 threaded onto one v of said connected parts and in engagement with the head 20 of the other connected part and ball bearings 21 are interposed between the said connected parts whereby the lower section 11 of the core barrel proper will' remain stationary as the drill stem rotates in drilling.

Above the core barrel and iitted within the guide 6 there is a head 22 which is connected to the upper end of the upper section 1l' of the core barrel by means of an insert 23 which is formed into a valve cage having the valve chamber 24 therein and in this chamber there is located an ,outwardly opening valve 25 which controls the outlet in the upper end of the barrel section 11'..

A special type of core barrel has been herein described but it is to be understood that any suitable type of core barrel or sample chamber may be employed.

As shown in Figure l, one or more tubular elbows as 28 may have their inner ends connected into the valve chamber 24 with their outer ends l downwardly turned and located in the channel 26 between the drill stem and guide 6; or, as shown in Figure 3, the guide 6 may have ports as 27 through the guide 6-into the valve chamber 24 and said ports may be hooded over by the hoods 30 located in the channel 26 with their lower ends only, open, said hoods being suitably secured to the outer side of said guide 6; or as shown in Figure 4 an annular housing 31 may be secured around the guides 6 and provided with an inside annular channel 32 which communicates with the valve chamber 24 through the ports 33. This housing 31 has a plurality of nozzle pipes 34 whose upper ends are anchored to, and lextend through, the upper wall of said housing 3l, and whose lower ends are aligned with enlarged openings 35 through the lower wall of said housing 31.

Any suitable means may be provided for lowering the core barrel into place and for withdrawing it. As shown there is a tubular anchor 36, attached to the upper end of the head 22 and pivotally mounted in said anchor on the. cross pin 37 are the oppositely working dogs 38, 38, whose lower ends work through oppositely ,arranged slots in said anchor and are adapted to engage underneath an inside annular shoulder 39 in the housing 6 and to be maintained in such engaged relation by the spring 40 between said dogs. A

dog actuator 4l works in the upper end of vthe anchor 36'and its lower end Vis bifurcated to embrace the upper ends of said dogs and a cross pin 42 is anchored to said actuator and works through the upwardly diverging slots 43, 43 in the upper ends of said dogs. The upper end of the actuator 4l has the head 44.

In operation a core or sample will be formed by the drill 3 and will pass up into the sample chamber 45 in the drill stem. As the drilling is proceeded with a drilling iluid will be forced down through the drill stem under pressure and will pass down through the channel 26 and out through the channels 5 and back up on the outside of the drill stem. The velocity of the drilling fluid as it passes down past the elbows 28 will create a suction that will relieve the pressure in the valve chamber 24; or if the form shown in Figure 3 be used, in a similar manner, a suction will be created through the hoods 30 and openings 27 to relieve the pressure in said valve chamber, or if the form shown in Figure 4 be used, the velocity of the drilling fluid through the nozzle pipes 34 will create a suction through ports 33 that will relieve the pressure in the valve 'chamber 24. If this velocity be great enough, a vacuum or partial vacuum will be created in the chamber 24, at times sufficient to lift said valve and also create a vacuum or partial vacuum in the sample chamber 45. The relief of the pressure against outer side of valve 25 will likewise relieve the pressure which must be overcome by-the core or' sample entering said sample chamber, in order to lift said valve and said core or sample will more readily enter said chamber and will not become packed therein by reason of the excessive pressure required to be overcome by it and a larger and better sample will thus be obtained. As the core enters said chamber the slips 16 will move upwardly and outwardly to permit the free entrance of the core or sample.

When a core has been taken a suitable iishing tool may be lowered into the stem and engaged with the head 44 and the actuator pulled upwardly and thereupon the pin 42 will move upwardly in the slots 43, 43 and will move the upper ends of the dogs 38 inwardly causing a corresponding inward movement of the lower ends of said dogs whereby the dogs will be disengaged from a shoulder 39 and the core barrel released and-then it may be withdrawn for an inspection of the sample. As the barrel is pulled upwardly the slip 16 will move downwardly and inwardly on the seat l5 and will grip and retain the core. Any-other type of core engaging device may be employed if desired.

In order tolocate the core barrel in the stem l, said barrel may be lowered and it will be guided into place by the guide 6 and when its lower end passes through the rings l2, 13 and lands on the shoulder 10, the dogs 38 will have passed beneath, and will engage the shoulder 39 and the barrel will be thus anchored in place. The shing tool, whereby the barrel is lowered, may then be detached and removed and another core taken as before.

The drawing and description disclose what is new considered to be a preferred form of the invention, by way of illustration only, while the broad principle of the invention will be dei-ined by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. Sample taking apparatus comprising a tuhus lar stem, a drill at the lower end of the stem having an inlet for a sample, a tubular housing xed in the stem a barrel in the housing having an outlet and arranged to receive a sample entering through said inlet, said apparatus having a channel for drilling iluid between said stem, and housing, said core barrel having a valve chamber and a valve in the chamber for controlling said outlet, a suctionl nozzle connected into said Lia-rasee' f 3 chamber outside of the valve and whose outer end terminates in said channel whereby the fluid flowing downwardly through the channel is effective to create a suction through said nozzle toetect the creation of a partial vacuum in said .valve chamber about the outside of the valve.

2. In sample taking apparatus having a drill stern,l and a drill atV the lower end of the stem having an inlet; a tubular housing in the stem, a core barrel in the housing whose lower end is aligned with said inlet, said stem also having an outlet, a valve for controlling saidoutlet, a suction nozzle leading from said outlet into the space between said housing and drill stem, means on the barrel above and beneath said valve to form close .fitting joints with the inside wall of the `housing to. prevent the passage of liquid downwardly through the housing, and releasable means for locking the barrel in the housing.

ing above and beneath the valve to prevent the passage ot fluid, downwardly between the housing and the enlarged portion of the core barrel, the lower reduced portion of the core barrel having a swiveling connection with the upper enlarged portion thereof, suction nozzles connected into said chamber outside of the valve and whose outer ends terminate inI said channel whereby the fluid flowing downwardly through the channel is effective to' create a suction through said nozzles to eiect the creation of a partial vacuum in said l ...valve chamber about the outside of the valve.

4. A sample taking apparatus comprising a tubulardrill stem, a drill at the lower end o! the stern having an inlet for the sample, a tubular housing mounted in the stem, abarrel assembly inthe housing having an outlet and arranged to receive a sample entering through said outlet, said-apparatus having a channel for drill# ing fluid between said stem and housing, said core barrel assembly having a valve chamber,

and a valve in said chamber'l for controlling said outlet, saidassembly including a core barrel havthereof, suction nozzles connected into said chamber outside of the valve and whose outer vends terminate in said channel, whereby th'e fluid flowing downwardly through .the channel is effective to create a suction through said nozzles to ei-l !ect the creation of a partial vacuum in said valve tubular drill stem, a drill at the lower end of the stem having an inlet for a sample, a tubular 'housing mounted in'the stem, a core barrel assembly in the housing including a core barrel having an.

outlet and arranged to receive a sample entering through said inlet, said apparatus having a channel for drilling iluid between' said stern and housing, said core barrel assembly having a valve chamber and a valve in said chamber for, controlling said outlet, said core barrel assembly having a reduced lower portion and an enlarged upper portion which ilts closely within the housing above and beneath the valve to prevent the passage of iiuid downwardly between the housing and said enlarged portion the lower reduced portion of the core barrel assembly having a swiveling connection with theV upper" enlarged portion thereof, suction nozzles connected into said chamber outside of the valve and whose outer ends terminate in said channel whereby the fluid ilowing downwardly through the channel is effective to create a suction through said nozzles to effect the creation of a partial vacuum in said valve chamber about the outside of the valve, core retaining means in the lower portion of the core barrel, linterlocking means wherebysaid barrel may be secured in the housing, said corev barrel being insertable downwardly into the .housing and said interlocking means being releasable to permit the withdrawal of the 'core barrel from the housing and stem.

4(i. Sample taking apparatus comprising a tubular-drill stem, a drill at the lower end of the stem having an inlet for a sample, a tubular housing 10i!A mounted in the stem, a core barrel in the housing having an outlet, said core barrel having an enlarged upper section, beneath said outlet, which lits closely within said housing and having a re' duced lower section arranged to receive a sample entering through said inlet, said lower section/ having a swiveling connection with said uppersection, a core retainer within said lower section of the. barrel, said core barrelhaving a valve chamber, a:y valve within said chamber for con-,115 I trolling said outlet, means connected to the core b'arrel above the valve and iltting closely within said housing to prevent the passage of uid downwardly through the housing, suction nozzles connected into the valve chamber and whose outer ends terminate in the space between said housing .and stem, interlocking means for securing the core barrel in the housing, said barrel being releasable to permit the withdrawal of the core. barrel from4 the housing and stem. 125

7. In sample taking apparatus, a tubular housing adapted to be 'secured within a drill stem, a core barrel assembly in the housing,'said assembly including a tubular core barrel having an outlet, said barrel Vhaving a reduced lower section, 180 whose'lower end is open to perqmit the inlet Vof a sample and having an upper section having a swiveling connection with a'lowersec'tion andv which is enlarged to nt closely within said hous-V ing, beneathy the outlet, core retaining means in 138 the barrel, said core barrel having 'a valve chamber and a valve inthe chamber for controlling said outlet, suction nozzles leading from said chamber through the housing, a head on said core barrel which lts closely inthe housing above said 140 valve chamber, in anchoron said head, interlockl ing means for locking the core barrel in the housing ,`said interlocking means being releasable to permit the withdrawalj of said vassex'nhly from the housing, anda ilexiblelinec'onnected to the 145 corefbarrel assembly for withdrawing said las sembly from the drill stem.

GEORGE J. BARRE'IT. sos'r'nrrmiy RoBrcHAUx. 150 

